India has vital role in strengthening world peace: Dalai Lama

Tibetan spiritual guru the Dalai Lama today said he foresees India playing a pivotal role in strengthening the world peace.

"Strong democratic institutions in India will help it play an effective role in making a peaceful and better world in the 21st century," he told reporters at a Tibetan monastery in Manali.

The Dalai Lama, who was here to preach on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo's 37 practices of Bodhisattva (Laklen Sodonma), said Buddhism is not only a religion but a "pure science and many scientists are trying to interpret its true essence through scientific methodology".

On the statement made by external affairs minister SM Krishna that India considers Tibetan Autonomous Region as part of China and "that should bring down curtains on any controversy", the Dalai Lama said there was nothing new in it as India's stand has been the same since 1954.

"China has the habit of making a hue and cry over my meetings with any world leader," he said.

On his remarks on social networking site 'Twitter' that certain members of his community were critical of his "middle path" policy for solution of Tibet problem, the Dalai Lama said Tibetan youths were committed to non-violence and barring a few voices of dissent, majority of Tibetans were still hopeful that a peaceful solution could be found.